Kolkata: Pratik Ur Rahaman, CPM‘s candidate who had taken on Abhishek Banerjee in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, joined Trinamool on Saturday after a meeting with Banerjee. Explaining his decision, Rahaman said he had stepped out of CPM’s “fortress” to call out the “naked king” for aligning with communal forces.He further said that he had joined Trinamool to keep BJP out of Bengal and that there were others within his party who were feeling stifled.With Rahaman by his side, Banerjee said Trinamool will continue to provide a platform for young politicians such as Pratik Ur, who, irrespective of party affiliation, were willing to fight BJP.“To all young netas from other parties, I will urge you to join Trinamool. As long as I am in politics, I will keep creating opportunities for you. I welcome everyone to fight BJP and its divisive politics. Mamata Banerjee‘s fight is a model for the nation,” Banerjee said.Addressing critics, especially within CPM, who claimed Rahaman had made a deal with Trinamool for an assembly ticket, Banerjee said, “Pratik Ur came to me and said even if he was offered a ticket, he wouldn’t accept it. Do you not even know the man who has been working with you for so long, that you declare him a traitor?”“Pratik Ur wants to work within the organisation. He has no demand other than to work for the people,” said Banerjee.At his end, Rahaman said, “Trinamool is the strongest force against BJP. That’s why I have come to join Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek.” He added that while CPM calls Trinamool BJP’s B team, the party had no qualms about entering into seat-sharing talks with non-secular parties led by figures like Humayun Kabir.Banerjee questioned CPM’s ideology and mocked the party’s comments on Lakshmir Bhandar. “They call assistance like Lakshmir Bhandar ‘alms’. By which principle? The state govt is helping marginalised people, and you belittle them,” he said, adding that CPM should know Trinamool’s ideology is that of “welfarism”.He further pointed out that many young Left activists had quit those parties, including Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay and Kanhaiya Kumar. “When Ritabrata came, he did not come for any personal gain. A young man like Kanhaiya has gone to Congress. Are they all scheming? And are those who diverted 35% votes to BJP considered pure?” Banerjee asked.Abhishek pushes for political age cap againTrinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday rekindled the age-limit debate in the party when he told reporters, “I have spoken about an upper age limit in the party. It cannot be that a person will continue to do politics for as long as they live. They might have to do something else as well.” Banerjee also said he would stick to this principle himself.
